Ericsson has appeared in seven games with the Red Wings in 2019-20, registering five shots on goal, 11 hits and three blocked shots while averaging 17:19 time on ice. The 35-year-old defenseman has also posted two assists, a plus-four rating, eight penalty minutes and nine shots on goal in 10 games with the Griffins this season. Ericsson has appeared in 669 games with the Red Wings since debuting in 2007-08, totaling 125 points (27-98-125) and 531 penalty minutes and adding 21 points (5-16-21) and 53 penalty minutes in 76 postseason games. Originally drafted in the ninth round with the 291st and last pick of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Ericsson is one of just four players in league history to skate in 400-or-more NHL games after being selected with the final pick of an Entry Draft (along with Patric Hornqvist, Kim Johnsson and Gerry Meehan).
A native of Karlskrona, Sweden, Ericsson has totaled 186 AHL games with Grand Rapids from 2006-09 and in 2019-20, logging 80 points (17-63-80), a plus-25 rating and 241 penalty minutes, while being selected to the 2008 AHL All-Star Game. He has also represented his country several times on the international stage, skating at the 2010 (bronze medal) and 2012 IIHF World Championships and capturing a silver medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Prior to coming to North America, Ericsson played professionally in Sweden from 2003-06, logging 128 contests between the Swedish Hockey League for Sodertalje SK and the second-tier Allsvenskan with Huddinge IK and Almtuna IS.
Pickard made his Red Wings debut on Nov. 29 at Philadelphia, which marked his 105th NHL game. Over parts of six NHL seasons, the 27-year-old netminder had logged a 32-51-9 record, 2.96 goal-against average, 0.906 save percentage and four shutouts with the Colorado Avalanche, Toronto Maple Leafs, Flyers, Arizona Coyotes and Red Wings. Pickard has also appeared in 15 games with the Griffins this season, sporting a 7-6-2 record with a 3.00 goals-against average and 0.898 save percentage. In 215 career AHL games since 2011-12 with the Lake Erie Monsters, San Antonio Rampage, Toronto Marlies, Tucson Roadrunners and Griffins, Pickard owns a 100-77-17 record, 2.64 goals-against average, 0.913 save percentage, 13 shutouts and a 2018 Calder Cup championship with Toronto.
Originally a second-round pick (49th overall) of the Avalanche in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Pickard signed a two-year contract with Detroit on July 1, 2019. The Moncton, New Brunswick, native is the Western Hockey League's all-time leader in saves (7,727) and minutes (14,025), combining for a 91-120-27 record, 3.29 goals-against average, 0.909 save percentage and 12 shutouts in four seasons with the Seattle Thunderbirds (2008-12). He has also represented Canada at the 2016 and 2017 IIHF World Championships, winning a gold and silver medal, respectively.
